Cavs’ Caris LeVert is looking forward to having more off-ball opportunities

Caris LeVert came to the Cleveland Cavaliers late last season via trade from the Indiana Pacers, and it was hoped that he’d provide the team that final spark to get the team into the playoffs. That didn’t happen but now LeVert is back and he has an opportunity to strengthen his position on the team; he’s reportedly now healthy, too, of which was not the case in the closing stretch last year.

Also, the Cavs went out and traded for former Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell early last month and that will likely give LeVert more good looks at spot-up shooting.

Toward the end of last season, LeVert was given the task of handling the ball in a guard role and trying to score off the dribble a bunch, and has often been tasked with that at other stops.

In recent media availability from last week, LeVert discussed how he’ll seemingly be playing off-ball more and he shared his excitement for the possibilities ahead of him, via Spencer Davies of BasketballNews.com.

LeVert is looking forward to having more off-ball opportunities this season with the Cavs.

From the sounds of this media availability, LeVert might be the starter at that three spot. While that could happen by the start of the season, other players including Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade could be other possibilities at that three spot. There’s a bunch of players reportedly in the running there, though. Regardless, LeVert will be on the court a lot.

From the comments, it seems that the Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff wants him to shoot the ball more. All of his statistics with Cleveland were less than he has had in his playing career. He was only getting up over 12 shots a game with the Cavs that included just three or four three pointers a game. So, the goal to get LeVert more shots is necessary if the team is going to maximize his talents.

With that the case, it probably makes more sense to start him because he will draw less attention than Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in that lineup and be able to spot up more for shots.

If the Cavs put him in with the reserves, than he might be asked to do more off the dribble and that might lead to more inconsistency.

It was disappointing last season to see the lack of production from LeVert but to be fair he was not fully healthy, and one got the sense that the pressure of stepping into a job like he was with the Cavaliers was a lot for LeVert.

While the Columbus, Ohio native has had a good NBA career, he’s not a star but he can be a semi-star here in Cleveland.

With the addition of Mitchell, it gives the Cavaliers so many options moving forward and LeVert could be a big part of that.